Advantages

Disadvantages

Be comfortable, realistic and don't buy a new outfit!

Don't go out and buy a new outfit for coming home in! Don't waste your money!

Remember you aren't going to come out at your original pre-pregnancy weight (unless you are very lucky!).

I'd advise you to take a couple of possible changes of clothes in just in case. If you have a straight forward birth the chances are you will probably fit back into your maternity clothes no problems and they will probably feel a bit baggy on you. In my experience coming out of hospital with baby no1 , I felt approx 6 months pregnant rather than the 9 when going in.

With baby no 2, I had a casesarean. Because it was major abdominal surgery it was a bit naive of me not to think that there would be no swelling. I was a bit disappointed to find that I came home weighing more than I did when I went in. The reason for that was the swelling but it quickly came down after a few days. So instead of feeling 9 months pregnant I felt 11 months pregnant! Well, what I am trying to say is that on this occassion returning home in maternity jeans was a no-no. I fortunately had a loose pair of trousers and top that was sufficient.

As with delivery you just can't tell how it will go until it happens then I'd advise a loose skirt or trousers that doesn't dig in at the waist, a top, and a jacket as the hospital is warm and outside is likely to be much cooler.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

9 months to put the weight on, 9 months to get the weight off

The first thing that I will say is please for gods sake don't get your hopes up for wearing your skinny jeans when you leave the hospital after having your baby. Everyone is different, and will take different lenghts of time to fit back into their own clothes again. It is only in the world of the celebrity that you see them photographed 5 days after giving birth dressed in tight skimpy clothes, looking no different to how they looked before they were pregnant. This is not reality!! They have fitness instructers and are constantly working at their figures. In the real world, pack some loose fitting clothes to wear home from the hospital. I was surprised at how long my stomach took to shrink back down after giving birth. I think it was about 6 months before I could comfortably fit back into any of my clothes. It was 9 months before I was back to my original weight pre pregnancy. It took 9 months to put it on, so why expect it not to take at least 9 months to get it off again.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Still need big and baggy clothes

I'm aware that all women are different but I was still really fat when I left. In short, I went home in my maternity clothes.I hadn't put on loads of weight during pregnancy but I was shocked at how little my stomach had gone down. I looked about 5 months pregnant.

Ok here's the information you need

Tops If you are breast feeding you need a nursing bra. A couple of weeks before you give birth get measured at Mothercare and stick them in your bag. For the top, a nice roomy one as your nipples may be sore and you may want to hide your bump! I just wore one of maternity long sleeve jersey tops.

KnickersOld ones that are nice and roomy as you will be wearing maternity pads.

BottomsNOT jeans.... you may be sore down below, particularly if you have had stitches. I wore some maternity trousers that were still roomy. I also wore my maternity trousers for at least 3 weeks after giving birth.

ShoesMy feet and ankles swelled up so I couldn't get my trainers on. I had to go home in my slippers. So just take some comfy shoes and see how you get on.

A coat if it's cold.Remember you have been in the oven that is the maternity ward and it will feel colder outside.

Definitely pack them yourself before you go in to hospital and leave them in a bag at home for your husband to bring in when you need them.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

no 2 people are ever the same so it is realy hard to tell you what to do.

After reading the other 3 reviews here i just had to write mine as i found the total opposite.

I cannot possibly be the only woman in the world whos bump disapeared at the birth.

After the birth of my first daughter i had a quick visit to the hospital, my mother in law packed all the things we took with us and in there she put me one of my husbands tshirts and a pair of my maternity trousers.

My stomach just literally disapeared the second our baby was born and although i had gone up in clothe sizes my stomach was almost flat, the weight i had gained was all on my hips and lower back. My mother in law had to go back to her house and fetch me some of her clothes untill i felt well enough to go and get my own.

After the birth of my second child i was actually smaller than before i got pregnant so needed a whole new wardrobe again.

The best recomendation i can make for what to take to hospital for wearing to come home would be to take your maternity trousers incase your stomach doesnt disapear instantly like mine did and take a pair of tracksuit bottoms incase it does disapear like mine did.

Although my stomach disapeared i had a lot of bruising which was very painful if i tryed to wear anything tight, and i would recomend something dark in colour as maternity pads have a nasty habbit of leaking quite quickly in the first 48 hours after birth.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Men seem to think that once you have had your baby that your bump will disappear. Im am sorry to say that this isnt true. It takes times for the skin and muscle to tone back down to its normal size so BE AWARE!! I will always remember being in hospital and the girl in the opposite bed had her baby that morning. Her husband came back to see her later that morning and was pratically on the floor in fits of laughter because her stomach wasnt any smaller so she would still have to wear her maternity clothes even though her baby had been born. The poor girl was really upset to hear this and was nearly in tears. I had both my children in the winter and I wore home what I had been wearing during the final part of my pregnancy. I wore baggy tracksuit bottoms and a baggy top. The most important thing to worry about at the moment is your comfort not what you look like. If you try and squeeze yourself into a pair of tight jeans, not only will you be highly disappointed but it will hurt! You will still be sore after the birth so you really do need something that isnt at all restricting. Your boobs will also be on the tender side so a good supporting bra with a loose top is also esential. If the weather is warm then maybe wear a loose fitting summer dress. It means you wont have any tight waist bands that try to crush your waist back down to what is was nine months previous and leave you feeling uncomfortable. As a final note I would like to say dont leave it upto your partner to bring your clothes to you. Most men really havent got a clue!! My husband managed to find a pair of knickers for me that looked like they belonged to my two year old daughter....not a pretty sight I can assure you!!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

My sister had the unfortunate experience of thinking that when she had had her baby, her belly would return to its usual flat, toned tum. Due to this, she took her size 8 jeans and a little top to come home in. OH DEAR. how wrong she was. After spending 40 weeks slowly stretching to accomodate your ever growing baby, your stomach does not just spring back into place after labour. (How I wish it did!) You are left with a tum that looks a bit like an empty bag of skin, this is why you must give some forethought to the clothes you bring to return home in. A big pair of jogging bottoms or combat trousers will do the trick, basically something with a stretchy waist band. That way it doesn't matter how big or small you are, they will fit. Besides that, if you have had stitches, or a particularly bad labour you will not want something tight around the crotch. You need a top that is big and comfortable to accomodate your boobs and belly. It doesn't have to be frumpy, after all the hard work you have done in the 9 months previous you will want to look halfway decent for the first time you've seen your toes in ages! I would recommend that you decide what to wear and put it in a bag for your partner to bring in to you when you are ready to come home(unless you are plannig to have a short stay after birth). Men aren't the cleverest of souls, and unless you want to return home in a slinky evening gown, or a pair of hotpants, pack it yourself! It saves trauma afterwards. Just a warning: my aunt left it to her hubby to bring her clothes in, and ended up having to go home in a still damp maternity dress that her waters broke in! Just remember: Comfort is the key.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Dont be mislead into thinking that your stomach will dramtically shrink after having your baby. Make sure you take clothes that you are going to feel comfortable in to come home in. I had to have stiches and luckily I took in a stretchy maternity dress in to come home in as trousers rubbed me and made me very sore. Also you dont need to take other clothes in make the most of not having to get dressed whilst your in hospital, you wont get away with it once your home and all the visitors start to parade round.